ALLENDALE, MI – Grand Valley State, which had trouble keeping a healthy running back on the field last season, suddenly has three solid ones ready to go this year.

The challenge is how to use them.

Chris Robinson, Michael Ratay and Kirk Spencer each had moments in the spotlight last season, but that was often created by injuries rather than by design. The Lakers couldn’t worry about rotating backs as much as finding healthy backs.

A quick recap on the three: Robinson went down with a knee injury in the fourth game, Ratay missed three games in the middle of the season with a concussion, and Spencer, a redshirt freshman, went from fourth on the depth chart to rushing leader with 978 yards.

There was also Hersey Jackson, who battled to return from a knee injury and played in just two games. He’s back, and is being looked at as a potential H-back.

That makes for a lot of running backs who want the ball.

“It will be by committee,” coach Matt Mitchell said. “They’re too good to have one guy out there and the other two sitting next to each other. We talked about it at offensive staff meetings – how we can use each of their strengths to our advantage.”

Said Ratay: “I think each of us would want to be ‘that guy.’ But knowing that we have three or four guys that are talented and could help the team, it changes the thinking. “We’re all fine. We all get along. No problems.”

Unity is good since this could be a long-running show. Ratay and Robinson are juniors and Spencer a sophomore.

Robinson is coming off reconstructive left knee surgery after he was injured in the second quarter against Ohio Dominican on Sept. 22. It was an unfortunate break for the team because Robinson was impressive. He averaged 6.4 yards a carry and 90 yards a game in four games.

Robinson brings a combination of size and quickness as an inside back who can go outside and be successful.

Trusting his knee will be the biggest factor in how quickly he is ready.

“I’m still trying to build my confidence back to being the running back that I used to be,” he said. “I’m about 70, 80 percent there right now.”

Ratay is the most versatile of the three. He can be an inside runner who is especially effective near the goal line, and he can catch the ball, too (14 receptions - fourth on the team – and another three touchdowns).

He is also the most experienced of the three. He redshirted in 2009 and received a medical redshirt in 2010 after playing three games.

“He just has unbelievable balance,” Robinson said. “He’s like that little toy you see that you try and tilt over and it goes right back up.”
Kirk Spencer
5-11, 200, sophomore
2012 rushing stats: 129 carries, 978 yards, 5 TDs

Spencer is the back most likely to bust out a long run. He averaged 7.6 yards a carry and rushed for more than 100 yards in five games, highlighted by 228 yards on 17 carries against Wayne State. He received spotty play until he became the starter in the fifth game, following the injury to Robinson.

He’s the fastest, most explosive of the three. The offense is tinkering with sets that have Spencer in the slot and Robinson or Ratay in the backfield. Spencer had early fumble issues that seem to be solved.

Asked how he felt about his first season, Spencer said, “Actually, I thought it was pretty good. There are things I could be better at, and I have improved. Now I’m looking forward to playing my role this season in however coach wants to use me.”